Good...but not good enough
That the Special Olympics gave their backing to this film is both a blessing and a curse. It stops those involved being accused of bad taste and degrading a fine institution, but at the same time, I feel it stifled the movie a lot. Given a bit more freedom, I think that this movie could have been the bad taste extraveganza people were expecting and yet could have still retained it's message of tolerance and acceptance. The notion of someone pretending to be mentally challenged to fix the Special Olympics is both funny and wrong and it needed to be handled in the right way. Unfortunately, the right way here is also a little bland. That's not to say that the film is bad, as it isn't. It is just isn't what you would expect and therefore could be considered a let down for some. Changing your expectations before watching this is helpful. The film is still sweet and funny and definitely of the feel good variety.
Johnny Knoxville is good as Steve, but better as Jeffy, his mentally challenged alter ego. It sounds like damning with faint praise as I am a big fan of his, but while his acting is good, he isn't consistant, and there are still the odd clunky, awkward moments, but he certainly isn't as bad as some think. Brian Cox is great as Uncle Gary, but the character isn't repellant enough. Someone who comes up with the plan to fix the games should be sleazier than he is. Katherine Heigl as SO volunteer Lynn looks pretty, but isn't given much to do other than be almost too good to be true. The supporting cast are outstanding, however, a mixture of mentally challenged and non-mentally challenged actors. They nab most of the best lines. There is a great chemistry, however, between all the cast members, especially between Knoxville and his fellow Special Olympians. The romantic story between him and Heigl, however, is a little predictable and it feels crowbarred into the plot.
The best of the special features is the commentary featuring Knoxville and two of his co stars, Eddie Barbanell and John Taylor, the director, the writer and Peter Farrelly (the Farrellys being only producers here - I can't help but wonder if the film would have benefited from some Farrelly direction?) The commentary seems to feature a bit more of the wit and edge that the film lacks, especially the banter between Knoxville and the writer Ricky Blitt. Highlights include the team taking the micky out of Knoxville's womanising, hard drinking reputation (citing Katherine Heigl as being the only woman on set he didn't sleep with and how his look of confusion in one scene was because he saw someone move his sixpack) and his own self deprecating attitude towards his acting. A refreshing change from a lot of Hollywood egos who think that everything they do is golden. Eddie Barbanell (who plays Knoxville's roommate Billy) is very funny and shows that having intellectual disablities is absolutely no barrier to being a smart guy.
The deleted scenes, for the most part are filler and wouldn't have added much to the film, but they do contain some edgier stuff - Steve as Jeffy becoming a little over excited on receiving a hug from Lynn being a particular highlight.
This is a film worth seeing and hopefully one that will break down a few of the misconceptions people have about the mentally challenged. If it does that, then it will have been worth it, but it is a shame that the film couldn't have crossed a few more lines than it did.Read full review
